LED indicators, why can't you see them?

**nzspokes** · 27th December 2011, 06:35

Originally Posted by ducatilover

It hurts to look at them.

I know what you mean with integrated units, some are poorly designed with shit LEDs.

Thats good then. I have no problem with ones that work well. Its just some are shit.

My stock ones are huge and im sure they can seen from the space station. But at least people can see what im up to.

**Conquiztador** · 27th December 2011, 07:13

Originally Posted by tigertim20

this one time, at band camp, I shoved a flute up my pussy. . .

Must have been the same camp where I played the worlds smallest violin

**ducatilover** · 27th December 2011, 08:16

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Thats good then. I have no problem with ones that work well. Its just some are shit.

My stock ones are huge and im sure they can seen from the space station. But at least people can see what im up to.

I have seen some impressively shit ones before.
Why you'd fit dangerous lights to a bike, I do not know

Your indicators are retro, which makes them awesome.

**nzspokes** · 27th December 2011, 10:00

Originally Posted by ducatilover

Your indicators are retro, which makes them awesome.

They are totally retro.

But the next owner has told me they will be replaced in the cafe racer conversion.

**sleemanj** · 27th December 2011, 10:48

I just put some LEDs bought from eBay on the front of my F650 (which is for sale (or swap) if anybody is interested) to replace some crappy bar end ones that couldn't be seen past the hand guards straight on. I was careful to buy e-marked ones.

At first I thought they were really shitty and must be chinese rip off things with fake e-marks, only 3 leds in each one were lighting so I was thinking the others might be fakes.

After a while I thought to investigate the matter further, I found that whacking them on a DC power supply (about 12v) lit all the LEDs very brightly, seems that they just need a good strong battery, which mine is decidedly not. I confirmed it by experimenting with disabling the rear indicators, switching off the lights, holding high revs etc, which confirmed that the more power available the more individual LEDs started working and the brighter they lit.

So what I'm saying in this rambling missive, is that people with poorly lit LED indicators, might do well to check their battery.

**Laava** · 27th December 2011, 11:27

Sometimes they need a proper LED driver to get the most from them.

**fokky** · 27th December 2011, 11:42

Originally Posted by tigertim20

this one time, at band camp, I shoved a flute up my pussy. . .

fantastic....well done sir.

**rossirep** · 27th December 2011, 16:30

Originally Posted by nzspokes

Ive noticed you cant see LED lights fitted to some bikes so why do people fit them?

One guy I rode with, you cant see his integrated indicators. Yesterday on the southern M/way, 2 guys went past me splitting. they both has LEDs and it wasnt until I looked real close that you could see the indicators on.

Im not saying they dont make the bike look better or work in some applications but why would you use ones that cant be seen?

iv got flush mounts on my bike and its true you cant see fark all of them but they look cool on the bike, but i also have pig spotter mirrors that have 4 led's on them to an i have changed my park lights into blinkers to, so now iv got 3 lots at the front of my bike and i look like a bloody xmas tree when turning but i still treat every car as if they were blind, cause no matter what you wear or what lights you have on car driver will also treat you with zero respect and bust out " i didnt see you" if something ever happens..

**ducatilover** · 28th December 2011, 00:37

Originally Posted by sleemanj

I just put some LEDs bought from eBay on the front of my F650 (which is for sale (or swap) if anybody is interested) to replace some crappy bar end ones that couldn't be seen past the hand guards straight on. I was careful to buy e-marked ones.

At first I thought they were really shitty and must be chinese rip off things with fake e-marks, only 3 leds in each one were lighting so I was thinking the others might be fakes.

After a while I thought to investigate the matter further, I found that whacking them on a DC power supply (about 12v) lit all the LEDs very brightly, seems that they just need a good strong battery, which mine is decidedly not. I confirmed it by experimenting with disabling the rear indicators, switching off the lights, holding high revs etc, which confirmed that the more power available the more individual LEDs started working and the brighter they lit.

So what I'm saying in this rambling missive, is that people with poorly lit LED indicators, might do well to check their battery.

I got the same ones for around $25nzd delivered and haven't had any problems even with low voltage.

(They look the same...)

**Brian407** · 28th December 2011, 20:34

Someone said it above, all LEDS are NOT created equal and theres definately some crap ones out there. I put 5 watt ones on my 1100 to reduce the load on the pathetically small 20 amp alternator. They're shitloads bright enough but I have seen 3 watt ones that arent worth the proverbial. By the time i'd replaced the blinkers, brake and dash lights I'd reduced the load by some 117 watts, or 9.75 amps @ 12 volts, and increased the brightness by heaps.

Golden rule is 'you gets what you pays for'.

Oh, in case anyone was wondering, I needed to free up some ergs to run my heated hand grips...

**Brian407** · 28th December 2011, 20:41

Forgot to add.... regarding the low voltage issue mentioned above... LEDS are divided into two types, and need 'drivers'. The cheaper ones use Constant Voltage drivers, and get dim, and eventually drop out, at low voltage, and the more expensive ones use Constant Current drivers and will retain full brightness regardless of the voltage (within certian limits) as long as they can draw sufficient current. These ones tend to have heat sinks built in as they can get hot during operation.

Study what you're buying before you part company with the money....

**tigertim20** · 28th December 2011, 20:55

Originally Posted by Conquiztador

Must have been the same camp where I played the worlds smallest violin

first time Ive known someone to name their cock after a musical instrument!.

to give you a serious answer, its quite simple.
You decide you want some bling/trick led lights for aesthetic reasons.
you buy and fit your new leds.
after fitting them you have a look to see that they work. they do work properly, and when looking at them from a few metres away, as you do when testing them, they appear functional, they look good, and they seem to emit plenty of light.

after doing this conversion and taking care to be responsible and check that everything is ship shape, you ride off into the sunset, blissfully, and genuinely, unaware that your leds arent very easily seen from more than a few metres away.

theres your answer.

the other answer is that no cunt fucking looks for bikes anyway so why bother with indicators at all?

**Brian407** · 28th December 2011, 21:32

should also mention that 'good' LEDS come in different colour temperatures, and it matters. Warm white @ 4500k has poor ouput at distance but Cool White @ 8000k can be seen up to a kilometre away in the right conditions.

**Conquiztador** · 28th December 2011, 23:09

Originally Posted by tigertim20

first time Ive known someone to name their cock after a musical instrument!.

BLA BLA BLA...

the other answer is that no cunt fucking looks for bikes anyway so why bother with indicators at all?

No see, the "Worlds Smallest Violin" has nothing to do with sexual organs (pun intended). It is a way of telling people that the issue they are raising is a non issue that nobody else really gives a fuck about, and therefore the whining they are producing is equivalent to someone playing a miniscule violin.

Re your second point that nobody looks for bikes: If you ride a 500 pale blue Honda that is probably true, and so, I symphatise with you. One of my bikes is old enough not to need indicators and it does not hinder my turning ability. In fact, I enjoy using my hands to indicate with and always manage to turn.